CURRENTLY READING…

By Cheryl Marks Young

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By Anodea Judith

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My Bookshelf

Browse the books I own, am currently reading, or highly recommend for those on their spiritual path.

Conversations With God Trilogy

Conversations With God

by Neale Donald Walsch

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Destiny of Souls

Destiny of Souls

by Michael Newton

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Journey of Souls

Journey of Souls

By Michael Newton

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Glynnis Has your Number

Glynnis Has your Number

by Glynnis McCants

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The Electric Jesus

The Electric Jesus

by Jonathan Talat Phillips

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The Power of Now

The Power of Now

By Eckhart Tolle

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The Dream Dictionary A-Z

The Dream Dictionary A-Z

by Theresa Chung

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The Watkins Tarot Handbook

The Watkins Tarot Handbook

by Naomi Ozaniek

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Many Lives, Many Masters

Many Lives, Many Masters

By Brian Weiss

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Fuck It: The Ultimate Spiritual Way

Fuck It: The Ultimate Spiritual Way

by John C. Parkin

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The Custodians

The Custodians

by Dolores Cannon

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The Convoluted Universe

The Convoluted Universe

By Dolores Cannon

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@ASHRISING ON INSTAGRAM

People throw the term “narcissist” around like

People throw the term “narcissist” around like confetti. 🎊 But being a self-centered ass hat IS NOT synonymous with narcissism.
🍑🎩
Everyone has narcissistic traits. It’s part of being human. When you have achieved a specific percentage of narcissistic traits, you are clinically qualified for a personality disorder.
💯%
Some of the REAL tell-tale signs of narcissism (of a personality disorder level) are as follows:
✔️
↪️ Perpetual victim mentality. They’re never wrong. This person has never once taken responsibility for their own emotions, failings, or actions and everything—I mean EVERYTHING—is always someone else’s fault. The world is against them. It’s not that they are in denial or simply choosing not to be responsible—they legitimately don’t have the capacity to see themselves as the source of their own shit. This leads to point #2...
↪️ Incapable of empathy. They are incapable of seeing the world from any perspective that isn’t theirs. You can’t rationalize with them. It’s like they can’t comprehend what you’re saying and they simply ignore it. They don’t have the capacity to imagine how another person feels.
↪️ Masterfully manipulative. Not because they are evil genius level strategists who gaslight you as a means to an end, but because they ACTUALLY BELIEVE the lies they tell others. They live within a delusional mental landscape of their own creation that constantly shifts to accommodate their need for superiority.
↪️ Delusions of grandeur. I’m not talking about being overly proud of one’s accomplishments, I mean Donald Trump level grandiosity. “I am the best, everything I do is the greatest,” and imagining themselves to be of a god-like status. They are drawn to positions of ultimate power and authority, particularly political and spiritual authority.
✝️
A lot of narcissists exist in fields where they can “help” others because it allows them to be surrounded by people who look up to them, constantly compliment them, and provide a sense of worship which feeds their delusional desire for perfection.
✳︎
Comment with a 🤮 of you’re tired of people labeling every asshole they meet with a psychological disorder.
😒
📷: @poppiphotography

Emotional IQ 101: When Emotional Validation is Act

Emotional IQ 101: When Emotional Validation is Actually Invalidating
✳︎
Well intentioned friends and lovers become accidental assholes when dealing with emotions. If you do not want to be an accidental asshole, read on...
✳︎
Emotional validation is the process of learning about, understanding and expressing acceptance of another person's emotional experience. This process helps others feel seen, heard, understood, and accepted in your presence. It is a key component of holding space space for others.
✳︎
As you can see, by definition, emotional validation requires three steps:
✳︎
1. Learning
2. Understanding
3. Accepting
✳︎
Learning requires exploration and discovery. It typically involves asking questions about why the person feels the way that they do. It is through the learning process that one reaches understanding.
✳︎
Emotional validation is all about *feeling.* We are talking about emotions, after all. The key to communicating understanding and acceptance in a way that *feels* validating is empathy.
✳︎
This is where, in my experience, people start to fuck up—unless they’re already a naturally empathic person, they forego the emotional element.
✳︎
Saying, "I understand where you're coming from and I validate your experience," does nothing to help a person *feel* seen, heard, or understood, because there's been no actual demonstration of mutual understanding and no emotional exchange.
✳︎
Other subtle ways people unintentionally emotionally invalidate others:
✳︎
They say: "It's not as bad as you think."
What it implies: "You don't understand your own emotions."
✳︎
They say: "Other people have it worse."
What it implies: "You're selfish for feeling this way."
✳︎
They say: "I understand why you feel that way, but...[now I'm going to tell you all of the reasons I believe you’re wrong]."
What it implies: "The way you feel is incorrect."
✳︎
What they say: “You’re making a big deal out of nothing.”
What it implies: “No one takes you seriously.”
(Continued in comments)

I really hate peanut butter cookies. In my 36 year

I really hate peanut butter cookies. In my 36 years on earth, I’ve never met one that I liked.
 And yet, every single fucking time I see one, I still think, “Maybe this time…” I pick it up. I take a bite. Nope. Still hate peanut butter cookies.  The fact that I still try it every time I see it thinking that maybe this will be the one and somehow my aversion will magically shift, all the while fully knowing I don’t like them and never have, is the definition of insanity. But that’s what ingrained behaviors do to us.  I’ve found myself exhibiting this same behavioral pattern in other areas of my life, particularly relationships. Falling for the same kind of people over and over. Giving them chance after chance, thinking somehow, this time, it would end differently. But it doesn’t. And I knew it wouldn’t, just like I know I fucking hate peanut butter cookies.  At some point you’ve got to look in the mirror and tell yourself, ‘You know you hate peanut butter cookies. You know you’d much rather have a snickerdoodle or a sugar cookie. The only reason you keep trying peanut butter cookies is because that’s the only thing available. And you know what? IT’S FUCKING OK TO GO WITHOUT THE GOD DAMN COOKIE IF IT’S NOT WHAT YOU’RE REALLY LOOKING FOR.” And the same goes for romantic partners. And friends. And jobs. And any other hypothetical thing your peanut butter cookie could be a metaphor for.

Be willing to wait for what will fulfill you instead of trying to settle with what’s in front of you, lest you keep taking a bite and spitting it out because it’s disgusting. Every. Fucking. Time.

#standards #whatyouseekisseekingyou #raiseyourstandards #consciousliving #value #knowyourworth #consciousrelationships

#love #instadaily #creativewriting #words #honestl

#love #instadaily #creativewriting #words #honestlyworded #thoughtoftheday #lovequotes #soul #instagood #wordporn #spilledink #wordsofwisdom #sacredunion #writer #poet #poetsofinstagram #poetry #writersofinstagram #quoteoftheday #reflectingoutloud #writingcommunity #writersofig #poet #poetry #poetsofinstagram

Someone told me on on Monday that they unfollowed

Someone told me on on Monday that they unfollowed me on Instagram, and it was one of the best compliments I could ever ask for.

She started by asking me if I could officiate her wedding vow renewal ceremony. “I really wanted someone who I feel in sync with and have always enjoyed as an authentic teacher and knowledgeable in the spiritual community.” That in and of itself is flattering, but her reason for unfollowing me was what I really took to heart:
“I go through phases where I delete or unfollow a bunch of people so that I’m not constantly reminded of heavy work (which I’m addicted to reading about).” This, to me, is the greatest compliment. I went to a conference over the weekend where they gave up intention bracelets that we could have any word stamped into. I chose dharma. (The girl making the bracelets didn’t even know how to spell it, but that’s another story...). If I’m reminding people of the heavy work, it means I’m doing my service to the collective. That’s my path. That’s my purpose.

#purpose #thework #theworkisworthit #personalgrowth #spiritualgrowth #personaldevelopment #mentor #livebyexample

The life and times of a clairaudient. ✳︎ #love

The life and times of a clairaudient.
✳︎
#love #instadaily #creativewriting #words #honestlyworded #thoughtoftheday #lovequotes #soul #instagood #wordporn #spilledink #wordsofwisdom #sacredunion #writer #poet #poetsofinstagram #poetry #writersofinstagram #quoteoftheday #reflectingoutloud #writingcommunity #writersofig

If you withhold parts of yourself to make other pe

If you withhold parts of yourself to make other people happy, you’re not authentic.
✳︎
If you stuff your emotions to keep the peace, you’re not authentic.
✳︎
If you dress a certain way to garner attention from others, you’re not authentic.
✳︎
If you’re positive vibes only, you’re not authentic.
✳︎
If you act like a tough girl when you’re dying inside, you’re not authentic.
✳︎
If you change your body to feel more accepted by the opposite sex, you’re not authentic.
✳︎
>>>Authenticity is something you embody, not something you preach. If you have to go around telling people how authentic you are in order to have them believe you are authentic, you’re not authentic.<<<
✳︎
If you’re attempting to control how other people perceive and interact with you by changing yourself in any way, you’re not authentic.
✳︎
You cannot be a people-pleaser and simultaneously be authentic.
✳︎
If you’re attempting to control how YOU perceive yourself through denial of your shadow, or by changing yourself in any way that doesn’t ultimately create a healing of a past wound, you’re not authentic.
✳︎
Authenticity is not found in your personality, it’s in your core identity, and you can only find your core identity after you’ve done many years of work to drop societal, familial, and gender conditioning, healed past traumas and begun to actively choose how you want to show up, on your terms and no one else’s.
✳︎
📷: @risingwoman
✳︎
#healing #authenticity #personaldevelopment #authentic #personalgrowth #instadaily #motivation #bereal #honestlyworded #thoughtoftheday #lifequotes #soul #wordsthatheal #instagood #lifeadvice #shadowwork #wordsofwisdom #highervibes #beyourself #heal #selfactualization #awakening #selfawareness #lifequotes #reflectingoutloud

People throw the term “narcissist” around like

People throw the term “narcissist” around like confetti. 🎊 But being a self-centered ass hat IS NOT synonymous with narcissism.
🍑🎩
Everyone has narcissistic traits. It’s part of being human. When you have achieved a specific percentage of narcissistic traits, you are clinically qualified for a personality disorder.
💯%
Some of the REAL tell-tale signs of narcissism (of a personality disorder level) are as follows:
✔️
↪️ Perpetual victim mentality. They’re never wrong. This person has never once taken responsibility for their own emotions, failings, or actions and everything—I mean EVERYTHING—is always someone else’s fault. The world is against them. It’s not that they are in denial or simply choosing not to be responsible—they legitimately don’t have the capacity to see themselves as the source of their own shit. This leads to point #2...
↪️ Incapable of empathy. They are incapable of seeing the world from any perspective that isn’t theirs. You can’t rationalize with them. It’s like they can’t comprehend what you’re saying and they simply ignore it. They don’t have the capacity to imagine how another person feels.
↪️ Masterfully manipulative. Not because they are evil genius level strategists who gaslight you as a means to an end, but because they ACTUALLY BELIEVE the lies they tell others. They live within a delusional mental landscape of their own creation that constantly shifts to accommodate their need for superiority.
↪️ Delusions of grandeur. I’m not talking about being overly proud of one’s accomplishments, I mean Donald Trump level grandiosity. “I am the best, everything I do is the greatest,” and imagining themselves to be of a god-like status. They are drawn to positions of ultimate power and authority, particularly political and spiritual authority.
✝️
A lot of narcissists exist in fields where they can “help” others because it allows them to be surrounded by people who look up to them, constantly compliment them, and provide a sense of worship which feeds their delusional desire for perfection.
✳︎
Comment with a 🤮 of you’re tired of people labeling every asshole they meet with a psychological disorder.
😒
📷: @poppiphotography

Emotional IQ 101: When Emotional Validation is Act

Emotional IQ 101: When Emotional Validation is Actually Invalidating
✳︎
Well intentioned friends and lovers become accidental assholes when dealing with emotions. If you do not want to be an accidental asshole, read on...
✳︎
Emotional validation is the process of learning about, understanding and expressing acceptance of another person's emotional experience. This process helps others feel seen, heard, understood, and accepted in your presence. It is a key component of holding space space for others.
✳︎
As you can see, by definition, emotional validation requires three steps:
✳︎
1. Learning
2. Understanding
3. Accepting
✳︎
Learning requires exploration and discovery. It typically involves asking questions about why the person feels the way that they do. It is through the learning process that one reaches understanding.
✳︎
Emotional validation is all about *feeling.* We are talking about emotions, after all. The key to communicating understanding and acceptance in a way that *feels* validating is empathy.
✳︎
This is where, in my experience, people start to fuck up—unless they’re already a naturally empathic person, they forego the emotional element.
✳︎
Saying, "I understand where you're coming from and I validate your experience," does nothing to help a person *feel* seen, heard, or understood, because there's been no actual demonstration of mutual understanding and no emotional exchange.
✳︎
Other subtle ways people unintentionally emotionally invalidate others:
✳︎
They say: "It's not as bad as you think."
What it implies: "You don't understand your own emotions."
✳︎
They say: "Other people have it worse."
What it implies: "You're selfish for feeling this way."
✳︎
They say: "I understand why you feel that way, but...[now I'm going to tell you all of the reasons I believe you’re wrong]."
What it implies: "The way you feel is incorrect."
✳︎
What they say: “You’re making a big deal out of nothing.”
What it implies: “No one takes you seriously.”
(Continued in comments)

I really hate peanut butter cookies. In my 36 year

I really hate peanut butter cookies. In my 36 years on earth, I’ve never met one that I liked.
 And yet, every single fucking time I see one, I still think, “Maybe this time…” I pick it up. I take a bite. Nope. Still hate peanut butter cookies.  The fact that I still try it every time I see it thinking that maybe this will be the one and somehow my aversion will magically shift, all the while fully knowing I don’t like them and never have, is the definition of insanity. But that’s what ingrained behaviors do to us.  I’ve found myself exhibiting this same behavioral pattern in other areas of my life, particularly relationships. Falling for the same kind of people over and over. Giving them chance after chance, thinking somehow, this time, it would end differently. But it doesn’t. And I knew it wouldn’t, just like I know I fucking hate peanut butter cookies.  At some point you’ve got to look in the mirror and tell yourself, ‘You know you hate peanut butter cookies. You know you’d much rather have a snickerdoodle or a sugar cookie. The only reason you keep trying peanut butter cookies is because that’s the only thing available. And you know what? IT’S FUCKING OK TO GO WITHOUT THE GOD DAMN COOKIE IF IT’S NOT WHAT YOU’RE REALLY LOOKING FOR.” And the same goes for romantic partners. And friends. And jobs. And any other hypothetical thing your peanut butter cookie could be a metaphor for.

Be willing to wait for what will fulfill you instead of trying to settle with what’s in front of you, lest you keep taking a bite and spitting it out because it’s disgusting. Every. Fucking. Time.

#standards #whatyouseekisseekingyou #raiseyourstandards #consciousliving #value #knowyourworth #consciousrelationships

#love #instadaily #creativewriting #words #honestl

#love #instadaily #creativewriting #words #honestlyworded #thoughtoftheday #lovequotes #soul #instagood #wordporn #spilledink #wordsofwisdom #sacredunion #writer #poet #poetsofinstagram #poetry #writersofinstagram #quoteoftheday #reflectingoutloud #writingcommunity #writersofig #poet #poetry #poetsofinstagram

Someone told me on on Monday that they unfollowed

Someone told me on on Monday that they unfollowed me on Instagram, and it was one of the best compliments I could ever ask for.

She started by asking me if I could officiate her wedding vow renewal ceremony. “I really wanted someone who I feel in sync with and have always enjoyed as an authentic teacher and knowledgeable in the spiritual community.” That in and of itself is flattering, but her reason for unfollowing me was what I really took to heart:
“I go through phases where I delete or unfollow a bunch of people so that I’m not constantly reminded of heavy work (which I’m addicted to reading about).” This, to me, is the greatest compliment. I went to a conference over the weekend where they gave up intention bracelets that we could have any word stamped into. I chose dharma. (The girl making the bracelets didn’t even know how to spell it, but that’s another story...). If I’m reminding people of the heavy work, it means I’m doing my service to the collective. That’s my path. That’s my purpose.

#purpose #thework #theworkisworthit #personalgrowth #spiritualgrowth #personaldevelopment #mentor #livebyexample

The life and times of a clairaudient. ✳︎ #love

The life and times of a clairaudient.
✳︎
#love #instadaily #creativewriting #words #honestlyworded #thoughtoftheday #lovequotes #soul #instagood #wordporn #spilledink #wordsofwisdom #sacredunion #writer #poet #poetsofinstagram #poetry #writersofinstagram #quoteoftheday #reflectingoutloud #writingcommunity #writersofig

If you withhold parts of yourself to make other pe

If you withhold parts of yourself to make other people happy, you’re not authentic.
✳︎
If you stuff your emotions to keep the peace, you’re not authentic.
✳︎
If you dress a certain way to garner attention from others, you’re not authentic.
✳︎
If you’re positive vibes only, you’re not authentic.
✳︎
If you act like a tough girl when you’re dying inside, you’re not authentic.
✳︎
If you change your body to feel more accepted by the opposite sex, you’re not authentic.
✳︎
>>>Authenticity is something you embody, not something you preach. If you have to go around telling people how authentic you are in order to have them believe you are authentic, you’re not authentic.<<<
✳︎
If you’re attempting to control how other people perceive and interact with you by changing yourself in any way, you’re not authentic.
✳︎
You cannot be a people-pleaser and simultaneously be authentic.
✳︎
If you’re attempting to control how YOU perceive yourself through denial of your shadow, or by changing yourself in any way that doesn’t ultimately create a healing of a past wound, you’re not authentic.
✳︎
Authenticity is not found in your personality, it’s in your core identity, and you can only find your core identity after you’ve done many years of work to drop societal, familial, and gender conditioning, healed past traumas and begun to actively choose how you want to show up, on your terms and no one else’s.
✳︎
📷: @risingwoman
✳︎
#healing #authenticity #personaldevelopment #authentic #personalgrowth #instadaily #motivation #bereal #honestlyworded #thoughtoftheday #lifequotes #soul #wordsthatheal #instagood #lifeadvice #shadowwork #wordsofwisdom #highervibes #beyourself #heal #selfactualization #awakening #selfawareness #lifequotes #reflectingoutloud

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